Fantasy Premier League – Player List Analysis – Premium Defenders

Having examined the Goalkeepers, Budget Defenders and Mid-Price Defenders, our assessment of the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Player List continues this morning. This time around, we consider the merits of the premium priced rearguard options for the campaign ahead:

Arsenal’s Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny both come in at 6.0 on the back of a season which saw the Gunners deliver 17 clean sheets (11 at home and six away). Serving up 157 and 155 points respectively, the pair both notched twice and notched 20+ bonus points but while their security of starts once again looks unquestioned, the arrival of Mathieu Debuchy from Newcastle offers us a cheaper alternative. Priced at 5.5, the Frenchman looks set to replace compatriot Bacary Sagna a right-back and, given that the latter made 34 starts last time around, it seems Debuchy would be guaranteed security of starts for the campaign ahead. The downside is a penchant for picking up yellows – Debuchy was booked 12 times in 46 appearances for the Magpies.

The situation at Chelsea is an intriguing one. Jose Mourinho’s side produced 18 clean sheets last time around and look poised for significant investment once again, though the arrival of Filipe Luis places a degree of uncertainty right across the back-four. At 6.0, Cesar Azpilicueta offers the cheapest option amongst the Blues defence after replacing Ashley Cole as first-choice left-back in 2013/14 but Luis looks poised to take over that berth, either forcing Azpilicueta onto the right of defence or back onto the bench.

If Mourinho has earmarked Azpilicueta for the right-back berth, though, then question marks may hover over Branislav Ivanovic’s security. The Serbian is the priciest of all Chelsea defenders at 7.0 and could be shifted into the centre, leaving him to vie with John Terry and Gary Cahill (both 6.5) for game time in the middle. With the keeper situation also yet to be decided, the best route into the Blues backline looks a little fuzzy at the moment, though pre-season should hopefully afford us a window into Mourinho’s thinking.

Seamus Coleman’s outstanding displays in the season gone by have ensured the Everton right-back joins team-mate Leighton Baines as one of the costliest defenders on the FPL market. Both have been slapped with a 7.0 price tag but, in spite of such a lofty valuation, their points potential at both ends of the pitch still suggests they could be worth the outlay. At the back, Roberto Martinez’ side managed 15 shut-outs in the previous campaign, whilst six goals and two assists from Coleman and five goals and five assists from Baines underlines their attacking prowess. With a European schedule also to factor in, we may see more rotation in the midfield areas once again and with the forward role still undecided, the Toffees full-backs may be the most secure route for investment.

Vincent Kompany could prove to be the safest option in the City defence this time around. With the arrival of Bacary Sagna making a significant dent in Pablo Zabaleta’s consistency of starts on the right, both the full-back positions look set for rotation under Manuel Pellegrini and, whilst Martin Demichelis may tempt some at 6.0, there are question marks over the Argentine’s security of starts amid reports that the club are closing in on a move for Porto’s Eliaquim Mangala.

Coming in at 6.0, Luke Shaw is the costliest candidate in the United defence under Louis van Gaal. The left-back delivered just a single assist for Southampton last season but, perhaps with the possibility of a 3-4-3 formation under the Dutchman in mind, FPL have handed us a dilemma over the new arrival. Granted, there are cheaper options available in the Red Devils’ rearguard but, if he’s handed a wing-back berth, an opening schedule that pits United against just one of last term’s top 10 in the first eight fixtures may bring him into our plans.

Liverpool’s Martin Skrtel (6.0) is also dearer than any of his defensive team-mates. It’s understandable, given that the big centre-half grabbed seven goals for the Reds last term, with his aerial threat in the box from dead-ball situations coming to fruition time and again. Heavy investment in the Liverpool defence is still questionable, however, with Brendan Rodgers’ side shipping 50 goals and claiming just 10 clean sheets in their title chasing season.

Spurs pair Jan Vertonghen and Kyle Walker also set you back 6.0 apiece. The arrival of Mauricio Pochettino bodes well for their defensive prospects – the new man in charge led Southampton to 15 clean sheets in the season gone by; seven at home was supplemented by eight shut-outs away, more than any other side on their travels. Pochettino’s penchant for attacking full-backs looks promising for Walker, whilst Vertonghen’s five goals in 2012/13 serve as a reminder of his attacking potential. The downside, though, is that a number of Spurs defenders are priced at 5.0. If Danny Rose can nail down the left-back berth (potential signing Ben Davies is also 5.0) or the likes of Michael Dawson, Younes Kaboul or Vlad Chiriches can cement a start in the heart of the back-four, they could offer us better value should Walker and Vertonghen fail to deliver the anticipated attacking returns.